Well, as we all know, not all that glitters is Gold, here is a Testimony of a unilag student named David, surname withheld at an MFM church.

David is a 400L student of unilag and has been attending MFM youth church since he gained admission in 2011. He was a very active church member until sometimes in November 2014, it was getting close to the exam period at unilag and David decided to study at his favorite destination in campus which is the Lagoon front.

While reading in front of the peaceful water, he meet a very beautiful dark Lady crying, he felt sorry for her and decided to walk up to her. He later asked her why she was crying and she told him all that happened that her boyfriend dumped her. David as a Christian gave her some words of encouragement, preached to her and consoled her. They became friends, more interesting, he has fallen in love for the first time in his life. Unluckily for him a mammy water.

After their exams they became much closer and by february 14 2015. They became lovers. As the relationship grew the young Lady began to demand for se.x but David was reluctant until one day he decided to forgo his church program to go out with the young Lady. He was drunk that night and had s.ex with the lady, you know what it means to sleep with a yemoja, David life changed, he started having se.x with her more frequently, he never went to church, he started smoking, his friends started to notice his change and started advising him but he wouldnt listen.

Until July 2015. David fell ill. He went from one Hospital to another but they couldnt diagnose the cause of his illness. Until he started seeing the girl in his dreams he then went to the church for Prayers. The pastor Later told him to confess his deeds which he later did. He later realised she was from the marine world and had ruined his destiny. After seven days of Prayers he finally became delivered. I’m wondering what could have happened to the girl as David shared his Testimony on sunday. This story of David is lesson to us, Pray while choosing your girlfriend before she ruins you.

A Lagos housewife, Mrs Gloria Okore, who was prematurely delivered of 2 girls and a boy 7 weeks ago, has lost one of the triplets.

This comes after a private hospital in Lagos detained mother and children for failing to pay up the balance N35,000 she owed in hospital bills. Mrs Okore blamed the harsh economic situation for their inability to make the required payment as her husband who hawks used clothes (okrika) for a living, only managed to come up with N85,000 out of the N120,000 required hospital bill.

“I had the triplets through normal delivery, but the babies were born prematurely. We were charged N120,000. My husband hawks fairly-used clothes (okrika). It took him time to raise N85,000, which he paid in installments. “I am from Owerri in Imo State, while my husband is from Abia State. We got married three years ago. Before I had these triplets, I had twins who died immediately after birth. When I was pregnant for the triplets, I was very sick; I could not walk long distance because my belly was very big.”

The 27-year-old went further to appeal to the government and well meaning Nigerians to help offset the debt and take care of the remaining children.

“I want government to help pay the balance of the hospital bills and also help us with basic necessities for the babies. Right now I cannot work because the babies are still young.” She said.

Why does God allow such suffering in the world? Is there a purpose behind pain?

A Fallen World

The primary reason that there is suffering in the world is that Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and thus, broke the command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They decided for themselves what is good and what is evil. They thought they knew better than God and listened to the serpent (Satan), and choose to do what is right in their own eyes. This is a bad plan because the Bible teaches that “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart” (Prov 21:2), and just as it was in the time of the judges in Israel where “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), so it is today. Apart from God, we believe we know best, but history has proven this is false. All we have to do is to look at the world today and see how that turned out. When we or anyone chooses to go their own way and not God’s way, the proverb is right in saying “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” (Prov 12:15).

Atheists on Suffering

I can’t count all the times when unbelievers have said, “If there is a God, then why does He allow suffering? If He’s all-powerful, why doesn’t He stop it? If He doesn’t, then He’s a cruel God. And if He can’t stop it, then He’s not all-powerful?” My response is, “Okay, let’s say there is no God. Guess what? You’ve still got suffering and you’ve still got evil? Who’s responsible now? Mankind is!” Our world is fallen because we’re motivated by what historians call the “bottom line,” which history has shown is money. This world is under the pulls of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, and it’s like everyone’s out for themselves. This same unholy trinity (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life) that brought down this world in the Garden, is bringing the world down even further into the pit of hell, which is a separation from God.

Why Suffering?

I knew a man years ago who had a debilitating disease. He was suffering so much that he wanted to die. When someone shared the gospel with him and spoke of how much Jesus suffered (Isaiah 53) so that we might have eternal life, it made him think of God for the very first time. This man’s suffering broke him and made him see how useless life was outside of the sovereign will of God. If not for this man’s suffering, he might not be a Christian today. This experience humbled him and God can only give His grace to the humble because He resists or is opposed to the proud (James 4:6).

The Apostle Peter on Suffering

Every person who has ever lived has suffered in one way or another. There isn’t a human being alive or dead who’s not gone through some form of pain and suffering, but the question is, “What will we do with it?” Suffering can make us bitter…or it can make us better. If you want to know about suffering, I strongly suggest you turn to the 1st Book of Peter who wrote more about suffering than any other author in the Bible (18 times!), and he wrote that it “is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (1st Pet 2:19). In regards to suffering, it is “to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1st Pet 2:20), which footsteps refer to Jesus Christ, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit” (1st Pet 3:18). Have you suffered a lot? Are you suffering right now? Peter tells you that “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”(1st Pet 5:10).

Trial by Fire

We know that fire is symbolic of God’s judgment, but sometimes fire is good thing. For one thing, fire removes the impurities from gold, and in similar fashion, our fiery trials remove the impurities from our life. At least they should. Peter again writes, “do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1st Pet 4:12-13), “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1st Pet 4:19).

Storms of Life

There are many reasons that God allows suffering, and for the children of God, it’s always good. There are storms of affection (because He loves you), there are storms of direction (making us take a different path than the one we’re on), there are storms of perfection (as Peter said, we can share in Jesus’ sufferings), and there are storms of reflection (making us examine our lives). Finally, suffering purifies our faith (1st Pet. 1:7), sorrow keeps us in a humble attitude (2nd Cor. 7:10), trials allow us to fellowship with Jesus (Phil 3:10), to be partakers of His sufferings (1st Pet. 4:13), and so that we might reign with Him (2nd Tim. 2:12). Our suffering is really nothing compared to what Jesus endured, but ultimately, this will all make sense at His appearance (1st Pet. 1:7, Rom 8:18), as “Our light affliction is but for a moment, works (this is a verb, an action) in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2nd Cor. 4:17).

Conclusion

There are so many things about suffering that we can’t grasp in this life. Someday, it will all make sense. For today, we can see some of the reasons that God allows us to suffering, but knowing God is good, we understand that there is nothing that happens to us or others that will not work out for our (and their) very best (Rom 8:28). We simply have to remember that. Since God is for us, so who can be against us (Rom 8:31), even if we’re suffering or someone we know and/or love is suffering too?

A simple banana is among nature’s finest fruits. In addition to a unique and delicious taste, bananas are full of nutritional value, such as Magnesium which is great for muscle relaxation and sleeping, and Potassium which is also essential. These fruits are another superb resource for fiber and a healthy source of carbs that translates to speedy energy boosts.

Ok, yeah, bananas are amazing. However, there’s one piece of it that never gets much attention – the peel. As it happens, throwing away your banana peels may be a serious oversight given that they are arguably the most healthy element of the banana itself.

Surprisingly, it is perfectly fine and good to eat raw banana peels. However; prior to doing that, you should absolutely make certain to cleanse and sanitize the peel. Many individuals consume the peel straight up, although others decide to use a blender to mix together with other fruits and vegetables. If eating the peels raw isn’t appealing, you can try putting them in boiling water for a few minutes. You can also scrape the inside of the peel with a spoon and eat that.

These are the added positive aspects of consuming what is in the banana peel:

Because the peel has even more fiber than the banana inside, consuming it can assist in lowering cholesterol, which can help in avoiding strokes and cardiovascular problems.
The amino acids in the peel can activate your Serotonin and therefore elevate your mood.
Because the peel contains significant concentrations of Lutein, it’s very good for your eyes, and can prevent cataracts and eye deterioration.

Using Banana peels doesn’t stop with simply eating them, you can also use them as topical solutions.

Your teeth can be whitened by rubbing the inside of the peel on your pearly whites.
Wrinkles can be reduced by massaging your face with the inside of the peel, and then leaving that film on for about half an hour. Think of it as a practically free face mask!
Banana peels have been known to do away with warts, so you can affix the peel to the wart with a band-aid or medical tape and leave it on for 12 hours. Repeat this until the wart is removed.
You can put the peel on insect bites and other rashes to relieve the itch.

Please watch this great video explaining many of the above uses of Banana peels!

Did you enjoy this? Let your friends and family know this amazing use of Bananas by sharing below!

How do you know when you’re under a spiritual attack? I hope this can help show you whether you are or whether you are not.

Feeling Condemned

Whoever has trusted in Christ will be saved, but sometimes the accuser of the brethren, the Devil or his demons, will try to plant doubts in our minds. He wants us to doubt God’s Word which says not one of His own would be lost (John 6:37), and He will turn none away that come to Him in faith (John 6:39), so will we believe our feelings more than we believe what God’s Word says? Naturally, one is objective truth (the Bible), while the other, our feelings, are subjective, meaning they are subject to error. The Devil is a liar and has been from the beginning, and even though he is accusing us, night and day (Rev 12:10), He’s got nothing on us. Yes, he’s right about our sins, but he leaves out the part about our sins being cleansed (1st John 1:9). The interesting thing about Satan is when we are tempted to sin a particular sin, they will whisper in our ear, “Go ahead…it’s not that bad. It’s only a small sin…and everyone else is doing it,” but after we’ve sinned, he then says, “How can you be saved…you’re not a real Christian…you’re a hypocrite.” Unfortunately, many Christians live a life feeling condemned and on their way to hell, robbing them of all their joy, but this is not what the Bible teaches. When you stand before God on Judgment Day, the Devil won’t have any evidence against you because God has declared you righteous in His sight because of Christ (2nd Cor 5:21). Sorry Satan, we’ve been declared, “Not guilty!”

Loss of Purpose

When you feel like you’ve lost your purpose in life, you are probably going through a spiritual attack. That’s because every person within the Body of Christ, the church, has a purpose. For one thing, God created you to do good works for His glory. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10), so God has appointed good works for you to do, long, long ago, before you were even born, so how could we ever think we don’t have a purpose? Even the Devil has a purpose that God will receive glory as God can even use evil for His own good purposes (Gen 50:20; John 3:16). If you feel you don’t have a purpose, then you are depending more on your feelings than on the objective truth found in God’s Word, because it says we were created to glorify God and to “go into all the world” (Matt 28:19-20). You have a purpose. The Bible says so, and the Bible is never wrong.

Famine of the Word and Prayer

When you are finding it hard to pray, and perhaps have even stopped praying altogether, then you might be under spiritual attack. When we stop praying, we are cutting off our greatest source of help in God the Father. We can’t do anything by ourselves. Jesus made this clear in saying “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), however He says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). A great way to abide in Christ is to abide in His Word, the Bible. This book is all about Him, so why not learn more about Him? When you find it’s the very hardest to read the Bible and to pray, that is the very time that you need them the most. Why not come to the Father, through Jesus Christ, and ask Him to rekindle that flame and put a hunger and thirst for Him back in you? God would hear and answer a sincere prayer like that. If you’re not getting into the Word, then the Word’s not getting into you. If you’re not praying to God, you’re depending on yourself, and speaking from experience, that’s a bad idea. I know; I’ve done it! Determine a time, place, and schedule for prayer for every single day of your life. I pray while in bed, before I get up. Then, I read some of the Old Testament and some from the New Testament, whether I feel like it or not. And to be honest, there are days when I feel don’t, but this is a bad plan. If I skip prayer and Bible reading, then I’m starting my day with no Bread of Life, and I’m cutting off the communication to my Father in heaven and He to me.

A Restless Anger

If you are under spiritual attack, you are likely going to be more easily irritated by people than before, even with small things. We can be restless and snap at people as a result of not reading our Bible, not praying, feel condemned, and feel like we have no purpose. These can make us feel useless to God, and uselessness makes us lose our joy, our passion for witnessing for Christ, and for doing good works for God’s glory (Eph 2:10). This is just what the enemy wants. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Psalm 28:7-8; Neh 8:10), so when the joy’s gone, so can much of our strength be. A great way to get rid of your anger is to start thanking God for all that you have. Make out a list…start adding to it daily. When you have time, ask others what they thank God for. Ask your spouse and even your children. It’s hard to be angry when you’re being thankful, and shouldn’t we be the most thankful people on the planet?

Conclusion

There are dozens of other signs that you’re in the middle of a spiritual attack, so tell us which ones you deal with the most? What are the areas in your life that the enemy attacks? Why do you think it’s that area of your life and not others that he goes against? Did you know that Satan was defeated at the cross? We have victory in Jesus and are much more than conquerors (Rom 8:37). He’s got nothing on you. Tell that to the enemy.

May God richly bless you,

Chinenye has an accountancy degree from the University of Abuja. But rather than pound the streets and knock on doors seeking a job that agrees with her academic honours, the 26-year-old has turned to frying and selling Akara, not just to earn a living but more as a fulfilling way to be self-employed. Her story is an unusual but inspiring one, as Daily Trust found out.

It started like a joke, that is, a joke to the gentlemen.

Chinenye Sarah-Mary Odili was throwing enquiries at the Zangon Daura estate roundabout in Kado, Abuja. She looked dapper in a suit; her physique was cute; and she spoke Queen’s English. So it must have been a joke that she would be asking for space-where she could settle down to fry Akara (bean cake) for sale.

One day in January last year, Chinenye had left home with N3,000, chartered a Keke NAPEP and instructed the driver to driver her round some areas of Abuja metropolis. Her mission: scouting for a vantage location to start a trade, selling Akara.

Selling Akara? The gentlemen she approached would have been more bewildered if they had known right away that the figure before them was an accountancy graduate of the University of Abuja. Her appearance gave away substance-of sorts.

Your average Akara seller is not considered well educated or even literate. The stereotype is that of a woman, at best a secondary school dropout, without hope of landing a high-paying office job, without the finance and intellect to start a meaning small-scale business.

Intending entrepreneurs will first conclude selling Akara is dirty and degrading than ever consider its promise of profits. So this lady uttering impeccable English can only be a joke. But 26-year-old Chinenye is not. It was a career aberration, but she had it all figured out.

From 2010, the Anambra State indigene swotted for her accountancy degree, with time to spare for extracurricular activism. She was vice-president of the National Association of Anambra Students, director-general of the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students and then a chapter vice-president before graduating in 2014.

After graduation, Chinenye, naturally hyperactive, began to dread life of boredom at home before youth service in 2015.

“When I finished my project, I felt I could not just stay at home doing nothing while I waited for my youth service to start. I could not really get full-time employment without the NYSC certificate, and November 2015 seemed too far away. I could not wait that long doing nothing,” she told Daily Trust.

She was unsure exactly what she wanted to do, but she knew she had to do something.

She couldn’t imagine just idling away her time at home where she resides with her parents, earning no income and constituting somewhat a burden.

Frying Akara was unlikely, but the idea began to take shape and grow. At a point, in search of counselling, Chinenye visited her matron at the University of Abuja. When she tabled her Akara idea, the matron was shocked and asked how Chinenye would come across in society, engaged in such a “demeaning” trade. But she was quick to reply, “It’s not about who I am but what I need and what I want to do.”

Chinenye also spoke of how she visited a former governor of Anambra State in his office in Abuja seeking financial assistance to help launch her Akara business. But the ex-governor would have none of her “crazy” idea, and so no help came from that quarter. Rather, he advised her to proceed for her youth service when she is called up after which a good job would be arranged for her, as he promised.

A man named Camille Parent filed a lawsuit against his own mother’s elder care facility when he managed to capture video-graphic evidence of his mother being bullied by other residents in the same facility, which left her severely traumatized with bruises all over her body.

Initially, he suspected that it was just the other residents who mistreated his mother – but he was wrong. Staff members were also caught in the act – physically abused the poor 85-year-old woman, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. Her belongings were also stolen! Care for your folks, do not leave them in the hands of abusive monsters.

When your child does something wrong, it is appropriate (and in their best interest) that you hand down some consequence. They need to learn that their actions have consequences. The type of punishment you hand out is up to you – but there are laws and consequences for you if you go too far – like Schaquana Spears from Baton Rouge, Louisiana did.

Spears that after her sons had broken into someone’s home, that a whipping was in order. Her 13-year-old son told police that Spears had hit him several times with an RCA cord and the boy had open wounds.

Image Credit: Schaquana Spears / Facebook

The 10-year-old and 2-year-old had some injuries too. Now a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old I can see breaking into a house – but a 2-year-old? In her defense, Spears said that whipping her three boys was a good way to show them that stealing is wrong. Again, a 2-year-old?

Image Credit: ABC / WBRZI don’t think he has any idea what is happening to him. According to District Attorney Hillar Moore, parents are allowed to discipline their children physically, but excessive cruelty or pain is not condoned.
Image Credit: N/A

Moore is working with the DCFS to get a history of this family before any decision is made with regards to Moore’s actions.

Some people have applauded Spears’ actions, and a GoFundMe page was set up to raise her bail money.

I don’t think whipping a 2-year-old is ever a good idea. If her older sons have a history of committing crimes, then there is a problem at home that needs to be fixed.

A Facebook user shared a testimony of a woman whose womb was removed from fibroid complications but later gave birth to a baby.

Read the story below…

“BIG BANG TESTIMONYWith Pastor Dennis Ekere whose testimony was shared in 4 services in Winners Chapel Ikot Ebido Oku today.His dear wife after a fibroid surgery developed complications which led to him signing that her Womb be removed as measures to saving her life. He signed and the womb was removed and was given to him in a Heinz salad cream bottle.??????????

However he held onto the word of God that… “If a tree be cut off, it has hope for at the scent of water it shall grow again” also he declared that the God that did it for Pastor Bamgboye whose wife’s 2 ovaries had been removed but still gave birth to 2 children would give him his baby.